New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-23
THE THEATRES
GOSSIP OF THE WEEK.

Having made up her miId to withdraw Met by
Chance" Miss Dauvray has set her shoulder to the
wheel TO make efficient production OF "Masks and
Faces" which she reyyes next week. When during
the early days Of Hazel Kirke" at the then newly
opened Madison Square Theatre 1t seemed as though
the play had fallen fat Steele Msckaye, who Was then
the manager Of the house. made elaborate preparations
for the revival of Masks and Faces" Miss Coghian
specially engaged to play the principal Fart and
ROB costumes and scenery were prepared. Hazel
Kirke tor nearly two years and Miss Coghlan was
paid q seasons salary for doing nothing. Mackaye
WHIT intimate terms with The author of the play
the late Charles Reade, received from him specially
prepared manuscript annotated throughout in his own
handwriting When he lett the Madison Square he
of retained possession OF this valuable book,
and the other day he called Mis- Dauvray and lent 1t
Eycs s For tns purpose the M @ nva
able. 1t contains on nearly every page admoni-
tons to the actors directions for the stage manager
and little plans OF the stage showing the position OF the
characters at various critical times There is q stirring
appeal at the end OF the first act to the gentleman
who shall play Pomander' in New-York,' begging him
to accept authors theory OF his proper action at the
end of the scene where realism has to extant to
be sacrificed for theatric effect In the body Of the
published editions OF the work. and the ending of the
play is altogether new and presumably moro effective
The possession of this treasure combined with the
suggestions Miss Dauvray received from the last
London revival OF the play under the management Of
the bancrots Is likely to make next Monday nights
tally engaged John Howson to play " Trpet." E. Ii.
Sothern will OF course play yanc" Joseph Whiting
Pomander. and Mr.. Piggott Colley Cibber"
The triple bill at the Standard Theatre is drawing
oven larger audiences than did The Schoomistress"
and MISS Rosns yokes and her husband Cecil Clay arc
entirely satisfied with the outcome of season which
began unfortunately. They have still three weeks
longer to remain and during the last fortnight will to
some extent change the programme. "We are 80 ire
s& S Es yfIesGi Sst we se we
cannot leave NewY York without presenting It, will
accordingly take the place OF one OF the three pieces
Lesson think shall RETAIN as it appears to have
made hit am glad to say that my wife has had no
serious relapse since she resumed her dancing and on
the whole she Is picking up strength wonderfully. l
forgot to say, by the by, that before leave New
York shall give the little comedy written for US by
Courtney Thorpe and Heron Allen It l. really clever
a matinee at all events. When we leave NewYork we
go TO Chicago for month and to Philadelphia Boston
and ashineton for two weeks each. About the end
of May we shall finish season and after that
plans somewhat indefinite. We have received so
many kind invitations from our friends here that is
possible shall spend this side OF the
Atlantic Mrs CLAW. howeye Is naturally anxious to
return home and we shall probably do 49,"
1t Is just three weeks since Mr.. Walacks scene
painters set TO work on the preparation of @Harbor
Lights and three days will the production
of this melodrama which Is seemingly elaborate |
talking of this yesterday said al think this has been
the quickest peoe Of work turned out by the theatre
We received II Is true the sets which had been used
at the Boston Museum, and hear the Bostonians are
Boosting that using their scenery. What We
did however to cut away all the canvas, leaving
only the frames which we stretched our own stuff
and to work repantng. Even then we had to use
several hundred dollars worth Of lumber to make the
necessary additions to these frames. While Dir.
Goacher and his assistants have been busy in this
direction my father has been spending all his time in
rehearsing the company. We have had to engage a
small army of supers and they of course are more
trouble than the regular company. l think the out
strong one and our people are well fitted In their
parts. Though are favorably disposed toward the
piece cannot help feeling some regret at having
TO take of The School for Scandal which has been
extraordinary success IL has, think disposed of
those who claim that old comedy has no vitality. l
am sure that when we present The Rivals and The
Busybody' they will be equally successful
So successful Lawrence Barretts revival of Miss
slitords Rienz ashingon lately that he natural
felt it would be TO his advantage TO produce as
IA possible in New-York The difficulty, however of
obtaining theatre wtha stage large enough to give the
proper spectacular effect To 1t was somewhat of
stumbling block to him. Last week this was removed
Mr. Gilmore the manager of Niblos Theatre was en- =
lbled 20 make arrangements for Mr.. Barrets appear
nnce early in May and the contract accordingly
signed for a of the drama. In there win
be no less than three hundred people on the stage and
all that effective scenery and rich costuming do
will be done To make the production impressive. Ii Is
said that Steele Mackaye. who rearranged Miss
Nlitor- original drama for Mr. Barrett, and superin
tended the rehearsng of the army of supernumerares
with mo-t satisfactory results, has been commissioned
by the actor TO write drama for him for production
next season.
The two hundred and fftcth performance of
: Erminie" ut the Casino is already being talked
about. ~ have given up thinking about next
said Rudolph Aronson the other day,
for il continues 10 recede further and further into tho
listant future: There is now no doubt but that
Erminc will run until the summer though wo have
The Marquis in absolute readiness for production
within week two. In comparing the run of
Ermine to those of other Successes here IL must be
pointed ont that the business doing is
quail 10 that done in the frat weeks of other operas
There has been porceptoe difference in the receipts
# any week since We put II on. II has convinced me
f one thing aud that Is that the libretto is the chief
'oint 10 consider in "A comic opera. You may give the
people the most delightful music composed but ii
hey have not an Interesting funny book 10 listen
q they get tired of coming. Musically Eminio
$ for below many other operas we have done. II Is
fright and tugeiu and nothing But the plot is